Forum Topic

Who actually likes Turkey?

The bird not the place!Had a little poll in my workplace today and it seems very few people there actually like Turkey, but still eat it due to tradition.So how many on here actually like Turkey?I don't and will have something else on Christmas Day.

Debbie Edwards ● 4287d24 Comments

Absolutely love a good turkey that has been well prepared and cooked.Too many dry tasteless ones out there solely due to being badly cooked.

Nigel Brooks ● 4287d

Our extra large bird is thawing.

Graham Weeks ● 4287d

In the nicest possible way Nigel, I get the impression that you like food. :-)Why does Turkey get dry?

Debbie Edwards ● 4287d

Logically I suppose the bigger the bird the longer it has to be in the oven and parts of it are more likely to dry as a result?

Keith Iddon ● 4287d

Just needs to be roasted with care. Basting and moisture in the oven.One trick is to have a tray of water at the bottom of the oven. The steam keeps the meat from drying out while the heat reaches the innermost points of the bird.Lightly seasoned, it can be really good. And quite a healthy poultry.

Anthony Waller ● 4287d

Interesting points Debbie. As you don't fancy turkey, what may I ask are you having for Christmas day? And are you having it for lunch or dinner? Are you going to do the cooking?

Gerry Tan ● 4287d

Probably be having Lobster macaroni cheese, but with a twist, crab meat.  If I am running late, it'll be a cheeseburger in the microwave. Yes I'll do the cooking, it'll happen whenever I get hungry.Did a quick google and it seems Turkey started being eaten in Victorian times when people had large families and goose wasn't enough. Thankfully I don't have outlaws or family or other people I can't stand coming round, so can have what I want when I want rather than follow the herd, I'm also working in the evening.

Debbie Edwards ● 4287d

Wishing you and yours a very happy and peaceful Christmas Debbie - enjoy your excellent food.

Gerry Tan ● 4287d

Definitely. Could actually eat it all year 'round instead of chicken.Nando's turkey now there's an idea!

Simon Wycombe ● 4287d

Absolutely love cooking and eating.People take the foil off too early and cook turkey for far too long. No amount of giblet gravy, bread sauce or redcurrant jelly will save something that has been cooked to death.

Nigel Brooks ● 4287d

Thanks Gerry and the same to you and yours.  How have you cooked your Turkey in previous years?Never had a Nando's and probably wouldn't ever if it was Turkey. Maybe because it does dry out if cooked for too long is the reason why we don't see any turkey take away places?

Debbie Edwards ● 4287d

I've roasted our family turkey much the same way as our Nigel Escoffier Brooks recomends, but I usually overcook the bird and it get a tiny bit dry - too much cooking sherry I have to admit and I lose count of time!

Gerry Tan ● 4287d

To be frank Debbie, we have turkey 'cos the children and relatives love it.  My wife and I prefer a roll of boned rib of Aberdeen Angus beef roasted with similar veg including parsnips, carrot and of course roast potatoes. But for the majority of family wishes, I eat turkey for Christmas.One day, I might try seafoof linguine for a change.

Gerry Tan ● 4287d

When the early settlers in North America encountered starvation and harsh winters with no food they were forced to go out and shoot the black stringy tough native birds with little meat that roosted sixty to eighty feet up in the hardwood forests of the North American East Coast to survive. Since then the annual American custom of Thanksgiving for surviving the year and having enough arose where the tough stringy turkey was eaten as a reminder of the hardships that the settlers and to endure and as Thanksgiving that things were better. Turkey has been commercialised and bred and fattened up to make it more palatable and, of course, in true American style has been marketed to become a product of choice. It made its way over here replacing more traditional English (and European) Christmas dinners that would have centred around a hog roast, for example.

Neil F. Weber ● 4287d

Thanks for that info Neil.  The Americans have a knack of being innovative in their eating styles. For example, I learnt that they "invented" chop suey - the Chinese deny all knowlege of the dish. And seafood chowder(whatever that is) is eaten on both coasts of North America including their South Coasts. As Michael Caine might say:-  "Not a lot of people know that."

Gerry Tan ● 4287d

Thanksgiving? This is about Christmas Day Turkey.Take a look here:http://christmas-onlinestory.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/why-do-we-eat-turkey-on-christmas-day.htmlIt also says "Today 87% of British people believe that Christmas would not be Christmas without a traditional roast turkey"Not in my house! :-)

Debbie Edwards ● 4287d

It will be, as in previous years, a turkey 'crown' in our house as there is no waste.Gone are the days of my youth of turkey, turkey sandwiches, turkey stew, turkey curry and "even more bl**dy turkey".It will last until Boxing Day when we always do a cold table with a nice home cooked ham (ginger and honey glaze) which, in turn then becomes the basis for a really nice carbonara the day after.

Nigel Brooks ● 4287d

Sounds like a delicious domestic routine Nigel - I like that.  Bon appetit!

Gerry Tan ● 4287d

Merci Bien!

Nigel Brooks ● 4287d

I like it with all the trimmings which just might be more important than the turkey itself.  Then there needs to be enough to make cold turkey and trimming sandwiches.  (I've just made some more bread sauce and cooked some more chipolatas to go with the leftovers.)I've also frozen some of the cooked meat to make something with in a few weeks' time.I wouldn't dream of having a legless one because I like brown meat better than breast meat. The turkey needs to be covered well with bacon and foil to protect it and to stop it from drying out.  I believe this is the reason that there are cooking instructions around which suggest that you cook it upside down.

Philippa Bond ● 4282d

http://westlondonwaste.gov.uk/loving-leftovers-without-turkey-sandwich-sight/

Philippa Bond ● 4282d

We prefer beef for Christmas, but family and relatives expect turkey, so we have turkey sandwiches on Boxing Day, with lots of jellified gravy, julien slices of any of the cold vegetables and some cold cranberry sauce and seasoning to taste. Boxing Day's routine is the same each year with sarnies and past Morecombe & Wise TV or Edna everidge progs or similar. Its been a pleasant Christmas this year.

Gerry Tan ● 4282d

Boxing Day a lot of the left over bird went into my daughter's turkey broccoli bake for 14 of us.

Graham Weeks ● 4282d

That sounds like an interesting recipe.I was tired and didn't make the usual fried rice with the final little pieces of turkey and bacon and instead fried some leftover potatoes to go with it cold. I subsequently wished I'd stuck with the original and best last leftovers plan as it is so much better.  With bacon, parsley and mushrooms and sweet pepper added to onions and garlic and rice with some real stock it makes me hungry just to think about it.

Philippa Bond ● 4270d